George Sullivan after win at UFC on FOX 10 against Mike Rhodes "I love being under underestimated"

Kingdom MMA speak to George Sullivan after victory in his UFC debut against Mike Rhodes

by Ben Heather @benheather

Earlier today Kingdom MMA caught up with George "The Silencer" Sullivan to discuss his win at UFC on FOX 10 and his plans for the future now he is 1-0 in the UFC. Sullivan opened up the televised prelims against Mike Rhodes, who came in to the fight with a lot of hype but it was Sullivan who grinded out a unanimous decision victory on his UFC debut.  

Ben: Firstly congratulations on picking up the win in your UFC debut.
Taking your fight at UFC on Fox 10 on short notice, how much weight did you have to lose before the weigh ins?
Sullivan: Thank you very much! Well, when we got the call I was 202lb but I was in shape so it came off very quick so by fight week we were about 16-18 over. We had a great cut other then the fact I was getting sick.

Ben: How was your fight day preparation and was it any different for this fight, or did you stick to the same routine you have used with all of your previous fights?
Sullivan: Fight day prep was the same as always, we have this down to a science and nothing changes. The cold and my sinus infection was bothering me but we battled through it and everything worked out.

Ben: Did you have any nerves on your walk to the Octagon knowing that your fight was being shown live on Fox Sports in the USA and around the world including BT Sports in the UK?
Sullivan: I definitely was more focused them normal. I felt more pressure but wasn't nervous at all. CFFC did an amazing job in showing me what big shows are like, granted no one is bigger than the UFC and it's simply amazing to fight for them. CFFC just gives you a taste and it really prepared me for my debut. Walking out was the greatest day of my life!

Ben: Have you had chance to watch the fight back? If so, how do you feel you performed?
Sullivan: I have yet to watch the fight, I'm going to watch it this weekend. I got the flu Sunday after the fight and have been very sick. I'm just now feeling better so I'll watch it while I'm healthy so I can really pay attention to details.

Ben: When it went to the judges scorecards were you at all worried that the decision wasn't going to go your way?
Sullivan: Yes, you're always worried but I knew I did more than he did and I also knew I pressed the action a lot more then he did. But before they called my name I was really stressing.

Ben: How did it feel to be announced as the winner of the fight?
Sullivan: No words to describe what I felt other than it was amazing to hear Bruce Buffer say that (his name as winner) was a dream come true and I can't wait to hear it again!!!!!!!

Ben: It seemed to me in the third and final round that you showed more heart and wanted the win more than Rhodes, do you feel that was the case?
Sullivan: Yes I do I still wanted to knock him out, I wanted to finish him. I was mad it went to a decision. I hate it, I finish fights. But I could see he was done in the third round for sure, he was tough though. I hit him hard a couple of times and he kept standing so hats off to him, true warrior. It was an honor to fight him.

Ben: Does the win feel sweeter knowing that in the build up to this fight a lot of the talk was about your opponent Mike Rhodes and not much about your skills as a fighter?
Sullivan: Just winning was sweet enough, I'm not bitter and I don't care what others think. My record and finishes speak for themselves. I'm not really sure why he was so hyped but it did feel good to prove them all wrong.

Ben: Do you feel Rhodes may have underestimated you going in to this fight?
Sullivan: Yes I do, like everyone else does. I can't tell u how many guys I beat and after they say damn I thought you would be weaker or damn u hit a lot harder than I thought. But you know what I love being underestimated.

Ben: did you come out of the fight with a clean bill of health?
Sullivan: Just a sinus infection and then the flu, Chicago beat me up lol. In the fight nothing though (I'm) 100 percent healthy.

Ben: Now lets look to the future, will you be going back to work your day job or will you commit more time to MMA?
Sullivan: I'm getting Married in May so I'll work when I'm not fighting and I'll still be training full time. When we sign a fight contract I will not be working, UFC comes first. My fans and myself deserve the best George Sullivan I can be and that requires me training full time. My next UFC fight will be my best fight camp ever as I won't be working at all. I can't wait to destroy someone.

Ben: when would you like to get back in the Octagon?
Sullivan: Soon, we just have to figure things out. As I said, I'm getting married in May so we haven't decided yet.

Ben: In just over a month the UFC returns to the UK, does fighting in the UK in the future appeal to you?
Sullivan: Yes I would love to fight in the UK, that would be sick :) My good friend, Bellator fighter Liam McGeary lives in the UK. I'm going to cross train with him so look forward to getting some UK training in.

Ben: Thank you for your time, would you like to say thank you to anyone?
Sullivan: Thanks for taking the time to ask me these questions, you guys rock. Thanks to Kurt Pellegrino, Dan Fischer and Dan Ocone for flying out for my fight and special thanks to Matt Jennings my strength and conditioning coach located in point pleasant NJ, you're the man I've never felt better. Also Thanks to Joe from www.njnutrishop.com.

George Sullivan Ahead of UFC Debut "My Only Focus is Knocking Mike Rhodes Out"

Kingdom MMA Talks to George Sullivan Ahead of UFC on Fox 10
by Ben Heather @benheather

A Pro for over 7 years, George Sullivan has come a long way since making his pro debut back in 2006. With an impressive 14-3 record, the 32-year is currently enjoying a 6 fight winning streak, claiming and defending the CFFC welterweight title along the way – not bad for someone who got into MMA because he couldn’t find enough Thai boxing fights to satisfy his desire to fight.

Possibly Sullivan’s biggest achievement to date though is getting his call up to the UFC, a call that at one stage the Pellegrino fighter never thought he would get when a controversial Star-Ledger article came out about the dangers of MMA on the body and brain injuries. Sullivan was one of the fighters who had been part of the article which went in to great detail on what Sullivan puts his body through outside of the fight itself, including in depth details of a past weight cut and how hard it is to train as a MMA fighter.

Following the story Sullivan went to great lengths to express the story had taken a lot of what he does in the gym and before a fight out of context, that being said Sullivan felt the story might have affected his chances of one day fighting in the UFC.

"They lied to me and many others, they took 8 years of stories and turned it into what they wanted. Even why they wanted to interview us was a lie. I was afraid it made me look like I was careless and thoughtless when all I wanted was to help MMA. We thought we were showing how hard we worked and how dedicated we are. The other reason I was told [they wanted to interview me] was to help legalise MMA in New York. They only wanted to make us look bad and barbaric but in the long run the truth came out and we won not them! Just for the record my scans came back perfect. My brain has no signs of anything, they need to learn facts before printing it in the paper!"

As luck would have it the UFC did call and as far as Sullivan is concerned the thought of turning down a fight, short notice or not is not one which is in his mindset. This is ultimately what resulted in him signing with the UFC and the opponent didn't matter, he certainly wasn't going to say no.

"I was sitting at home and got a call from Kurt [Pellegrino] asking if I wanted to fill in and fight Pascal Krauss. We said yes right away. The next day they [the UFC] said the fight was off but they wanted to give me a contract anyway and I was beyond excited there is no one I won't fight, it didn't matter who. I just wanted to call myself a UFC fighter and show the world what I can do."

"I always wanted to be in the UFC and the feeling is so amazing words can not describe what I'm feeling. I'm so proud and honoured, I still have so much more to work for and I can't wait to climb this final ladder. I live for challenges and I just got accepted to the hardest challenge in the world. I can't wait to start... let's go!"

And go he shall straight into a fight with the much hyped prospect Mike Rhodes on the undercard of UFC of FOX 10 this Saturday. Even with Rhodes rolling in to the fight with all the hype he has, Sullivan hasn't changed his approach to training for this fight. Even admitting he "hasn't seen much tape on Rhodes" previous fights instead believing "that you never know what a fighter will do until they are stood in front of you" in the cage.

The biggest surprise to Sullivan is how much hype Rhodes is getting going in to the fight and he is "not sure why Mike Rhodes has so much hype other than the fact of who he trains with and where he trains."

Sullivan however is relishing coming in to this fight as the underdog and if anyone questions why he has been signed you just have to look at his record.

"I hope I'm the underdog because shutting people up is what "the silencer" does. I've knocked out 11 pros and I have nothing to prove, my only focus is knocking Mike Rhodes out. I hit extremely hard and my only goal is to hit and win, I look forward to this test."

Sullivan doesn't just turn up to try and steal a win on the judges score cards, he comes to fight and put on a exciting show for the fans. He already has a record which is scattered with wins over fighters who have fought at the top level including ex UFC and Bellator fighters and in most cases he won by stoppage.

"I'm known for knocking people out, anyone I hit gets KO'd. I'm always looking to land power strikes. Winning isn't enough, finishing is what I want to do. I try and make the fights as exciting as possible for myself and most importantly the fans!"

Last year Sullivan also won via TKO against Julian "Let me bang bro" Lane who famously appeared on The Ultimate Fighter. As usual, Julian was talking trash before the fight and after getting the TKO Sullivan was given his nickname "The Silencer" or more to the point his right hand is his silencer.

With Kurt Pellegrino as a coach, Sullivan knows he has had the best preparation possible for this camp and he will be in safe hands when it comes to fight night and he makes his way out to the Octagon for the first time.

"Training with Kurt is amazing, hard work and fun at the same time. Kurt and Mellisa Pellegrino changed my life. They run the best BJJ and MMA academy in New Jersey, we have amazing students and fighters. He also brings in some of the best wrestling coaches around including Dan Ocone, a NJ legend and black belt in judo. Being apart of Kurt gets you Matt Jennings, the best strength and condition coach hands down in point pleasant NJ and training under a UFC vet and a grappling world champ is simply amazing. I'm so blessed to have Kurt Pellegrino lead me into battle. A true leader, KPMMA all day!"

When it comes to how the fight will go on Saturday night George sees only one outcome.

"I see myself knocking Mike Rhodes out, I know he's a great striker but I'm the better MMA fighter. I can't wait to fight him, I live for this. UFC here I come."

UFC on Fox 10 takes place January 25 from the United Centre, Chicago, Illinois.